Episode 41
What is this, what is going on. How did this happen.
It was a state of panic I hadn’t felt in a very long time since regressing.
No, isn’t this the first time I’ve panicked like this since returning in this life?
However, I soon became resolute.
‘First, I have to do something about this situation.’
Everyone was focusing on Pierre and me.
Even Agenor looked dazed, as if he hadn’t expected this situation—well, of course he wouldn’t have expected it.
‘Agenor already gave me all the answers. That even he didn’t know about this.’
Then, the way for me to handle it is…
I whipped my head around.
My eyes met Father’s.
Complexity felt like the priority, but now was not the time to think about such things.
‘Smile.’
I smiled as brightly and as prettily as I possibly could.
“Daddy!!”
And as if I had been waiting, I hopped down from the chair and ran straight toward him.
This conference hall was structured so that it lowered by one step as it moved toward the door.
Because of that, I was able to leap toward Father from the edge of the stairs.
‘Please, please catch me. Catch me!’
Fortunately, Father caught my body lightly.
He said nothing while holding me, though.
Yes, saying nothing is actually better!
I smiled broadly and impulsively hugged Father around the neck.
“Daddy, you said you couldn’t come. Because you were sick… Are you okay now? Hmm?”
While smiling radiantly, I was internally swinging between a cold bath and a hot one.
It was because there was no way to know what on earth Pierre was thinking.
‘Damn it, am I going to be plucked away and dropped on the ground like this?’
If that happens, let’s think in advance about what to say.
Regardless, I showed a behavior that matched the rumors—the rumors I had spread myself!
‘Silence is no good. Please, react somehow. Anything…’
Now, all that remained was the unknown intention of my father.
‘No, is silence actually better?’
Thump-thump, it felt like my heart was beating the loudest in this life.
As I hugged his neck and squeezed my eyes shut.
Something was placed on my head and then pulled away.
“Yes. My body has gotten better.”
I blinked, still hugging Father.
Since I was being held while facing the wall, no one would be able to see my expression.
“I have caused you worry.”
……The fact that I had frozen stiff was something only Father would know.
‘You, were you a person who could speak normally like this?’
By the time all the daze had passed through me, Father had reached the seat where I had been sitting while holding me.
Whether everyone else was as dazed as I was, only after Father arrived did the sound of exhaling breath come from all directions.
“Is there a need for separate verification of attendance?”
“……No. Lord Pierre, your attendance has been confirmed.”
Laila spoke in as businesslike a tone as possible.
Chaya Chairperson wore a face as if she couldn’t believe it even though she was the one who had insisted on it.
“It has been a long time. Lord Pierre. To think, I would see you like this……”
“The girl was excessively worried and did not tell me the date properly. Thanks to that, I am a bit late.”
Hmm, surely I am dreaming.
But seeing the lazy yet chilly eyes settled before me, it was reality again.
‘How should I interpret this?’
I secretly gulped down a breath.
I clenched my fists tight.
No, for now, let’s think positively.
It seemed this father intended to cover everything up for now and cooperate with me.
‘Though I don’t know the reason.’
This tension must be postponed until after the disciplinary committee.
Turning my head slightly, I saw that Lord Bayan’s side had also stood up abruptly as if very surprised.
My aunt, who had been consistently calm, was also staring at Father in shock.
‘Good, as long as he didn’t come to ruin this meeting, anyway.’
I gained confidence.
It was a situation where the only weakness in this meeting had been overcome.
“T-This is invalid. He didn’t check in beforehand!”
“Lord Bayan, this is a matter agreed upon by all three of us chairpersons. Lord Bayan, I hope you have not forgotten the oath you made to be truthful and faithful when the meeting began.”
At Laila’s firm words, Lord Bayan frowned slightly.
‘Well done, Laila.’
But he wouldn’t be Lord Bayan if he just stayed still like this.
A stream of water surged from behind Lord Bayan. It was angry water, nothing short of fierce.
However, his power was immediately swallowed by another power.
“Son, sit down.”
“……Mother.”
“Didn’t they say the chairperson acknowledged it.”
“…….”
When the aunt, who had eyes close to slits, turned her head toward Lord Bayan, only then did Lord Bayan sit down while grinding his teeth.
Crash!
Hitting the desk and breaking it was a bonus.
‘Tsk, no matter how much he does that, he doesn’t know the essence of this meeting. What a stupid fellow.’
This meeting was as good as concluded.
A disciplinary committee was essentially a place where, like a trial with a jury, the details of the meeting are shown in full, each party’s grievances and circumstances are argued minutely, and then the level of punishment is decided including the jurors.
So, those chairpersons and vassals were not there for show; they were the ones to impress in this very place.
‘Does that fellow not think—or is he just not thinking—that this result will reach Grandmother’s ears?’
Well, if he self-destructs on his own, that’s a good thing.
As I was watching seriously and chuckling softly, I felt a gaze.
My eyes met Father’s.
I slinked away for a moment then quickly turned back and smiled broadly.
‘Let’s not forget, smile.’
Father let out a short laugh.
……It was an expression of “ridiculous,” so a slight cold sweat broke out on the back of my neck.
“There was a brief disturbance, but we will commence the main agenda. From now on, those with objections, please raise your hand toward the chairperson.”
The remaining chairperson, who had been silent until now, spoke slowly. It was the official start.
It was time to straighten my back and be ready to open my mouth at any moment.
“This meeting will……”
“Excuse me!”
Along with the chairperson’s words, the door rattled open.
Compared to when Father had opened it soundlessly, it was a very noisy sound.
The interrupted chairperson scowled deeply.
Laila and Chaya Chairperson were the same, but everyone shut their mouths upon seeing the person who entered.
“What business does the Head of the Family’s attendant have here?”
“It is an order from the Head of the Family!”
That was because the person who just entered was an attendant directly under the Head of the Family.
‘An order from the Head of the Family?’
Why would Grandmother, who should be in the middle of a Family Meeting somewhere right now, come up?
‘I feel uneasy.’
This is a fight already won. I can’t just let this opportunity slip away.
It was the moment I frowned at the bad premonition.
“From now on, this High Disciplinary Committee will move locations and continue in the Hall of Blue Waves.”
My eyes widened.
“Therefore, it will be resumed within the Family Meeting where the Head of the Family is present!”
……What?
What on earth does that mean?
I froze stiff while looking at the attendant.
‘No, seriously, what does that mean!’
There’s a limit to dropping an orca into cooked rice.
‘The Family Meeting is that fellow’s home turf!’
In the current situation, with Lord Bayan’s spectacular own goal, his punishment was as good as decided if things just stayed this way.
In fact, the influence the educational institution exerted in this orca society was greater than expected.
Just looking at the Intermediate Institution’s Chaya Chairperson, she was a comrade-in-arms with Grandmother.
Therefore, the fact that a record of punishment for the influential successor, Lord Bayan, remains in the High Disciplinary Committee carries a greater meaning than one might think.
I cannot endure it without properly splashing mud on the fellow who dared to hit me and the twin.
‘I was just leading the atmosphere quite well in a way that wasn’t good for Lord Bayan!’
What’s what?
Continuing this disciplinary committee in the place where Grandmother is, and in a Family Meeting at that?
‘That’s nonsense.’
I ground my teeth internally.
While trying to hide my rotting expression, I saw the expressions of the gang, including Lord Bayan opposite me, brightening noticeably.
‘The Family Meeting is a place where that fellow’s faction is deployed.’
An influential successor candidate ultimately means there are many heads following them.
Especially when going to a Family Meeting where there are many branch families and vassals, the side with more numbers is bound to be at an advantage.
‘Ultimately, this is no different from that fellow Lord Bayan going to advantageous high ground.’
Lord Bayan and his gang, who knew this all too well, were now in a festive mood.
Even the aunt, who had been consistently calm, was smiling as if she were enjoying herself.
“Um, little sister. What should we do?”
Agenor asked cautiously.
‘In this place, Grandmother’s order is absolute.’
As long as the Head of the Family ordered it, it was as good as decided.
“What else can we do. It can’t be helped.”
‘I really wanted to see that fellow get screwed over.’
It was the moment I bit my lip and let out a deep sigh internally along with resignation.
“It is fine.”
A low voice resonated.
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